Parachute container and ejector for aeroplanes



A ril 17, 1928.-

J. LA FORTE PARAUHUTE CONTAINER AND EJ'ECTOR FOR.AEROPLANES Filed Oct. 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1928. 1,666,456

J.LA FORTE.

PARACHU' TE CONTAINER AND EJECTOR FOR AEROPLANES Filed Oct. 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

JOSEPH LA FORTE, OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA.

PARACHUTE CONTAINER AND EJ'ECTOR FOR AEROPLANES.

Application filed October 20, 1926. Serial No. 142,914.

by an air blast, such blast being caused by trapping some of the air through which the aeroplane is traveling and forcing same into 'the center of the parachute, thus ejecting the parachute and at the same time partly expanding same.

Another object of my invention is in the manner of connecting the parachute to the aeroplane in order to sustain same if dis abled or out of control and in the manner of housing the cables or the like connecting the parachute in the container and the attaching devices to the aeroplane. 4

Another feature of my invention is in the controlling of a trap type of chute for forcing the air into the parachute.

My invention also comprises equipping the aeroplane with guards which prevents the parachute from becoming entangled in the rudders or fins.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation partly broken away of an aeroplane equipped to contain and eject parachutes in accordance with'my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away, showing the aeroplane being sustained by the parachute;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig.

3 in the direction of the arrows, this being through the chute and the ejector.

The aeroplane is designated generally by the numeral 1 and has an air passage 2 extending from the bottom in an inclined manner upwardly towards the rear. This passage is preferably formed with a rear wall 3, a front wall 4 and side walls 5. These at their lower edges are spaced apart substantially to the largest dimensions the aeroplane will allow and are contracted into a discharge passage 6, this being shownas circular.

The container for the parachute is designated generally by the numeral 7 and has a floor 8 and side walls 9, these walls being preferably circular and termlnating at the top 10 of the fuselage. The parachute 11 is folded inside the container, the projecting end 12 of the discharge passage extending above the floor, the top of'the parachute being drawn over the discharge end and the sides being iolded'between such end and the side walls of the container. The ro es and cables 13 of the parachute are pref en ably connected to a ring 14:, such ,ropes beng packed in the container, the ring resting on the floor 8. Cables 15 extend from the ring to eyes or the like 16 on the aeroplane structure so as to sustain the aeroplane from the parachute when the parachute is opened. There are preferably channels 17 formed in the aeroplane leading from the container to these eyes. Should the cables 15 require to be of considerable length these may be coiled in a receptacle 18 between the eyes 16.

It is desirable to enclose the containers and the channels having the cables and also the cables in the receptacle 18 should they be coiled there, by a suitable cover19. This would be made of readily tearable material so that when the parachute is blown out this cover will be ripped or otherwise opened allowing the parachute to expand freely and the ropes and cables to be drawn out.

An air chute is designated generally by the numeral 20 and is constructed by having a hinged trap door 21 mounted on a transverse pintle 22 extending across the aeroplane at the bottom at the junction of the bottom of the aeroplane with the rear wall 3 of the lower air passage 2. Arms 23 are rigidly connected to the trap door and by means of springs 24 connecting such arms to a fixed part of the-aeroplane there is a constant tendency tospring or open the trap door. This door is held closed by a latch 25; such latch being shown as having the spring 26 holding same in engagement with the door.

There is a foot pedal 27 to be operated by the aviator and a cable 28 connecting from the foot pedal to the latch to trip same. Rigidly connected to the trap door are side walls 27 which when the door is closed extend upwardly on opposite sides of the side walls 5 of the air passage. There is preferably a flange 30 or the like to prevent the trap door from opening too far when released.

In order to prevent the parachute from becoming entangled in the rudders a ca e 31 is constructed at the rear part of the uselage. This preferably has a series of arches chute will not become wedged in the cage nose down. Hence the strong draft of air 32 extending transversely across the tail end of the aeroplane and a series of longitudinal bars 33 secured .to the arches and drawingtogether, towards the fuselage at a consider-' able distance forward of the control rudders.- Asthe spaces between the bars become wider towards the stern of the aeroplane',jtl 1e paraand should it sweep along the upper part of the fuselage the parachute will clear the control rudders.

The manner of operating of the ejector is substantially as follows: v

When the aviator decides it is necessary to release the parachute, hemerely has to step on the pedal .Z'T which releases'the latch 25 so that the springs 24 cause the springing or downward opening of-the ,traprdoorfll, this carrying the rigidv side walls 29 and forming a chute 20 extending below the bottom of the aeroplane. This chute has'the trap door.

The air s then forced upwardly "through the lower passage 2 and the upper passage 6, thereb causing .the inflatioriofthe parachute an blowing same out'of"'the .-container. As-above mentioned the parachute causes the ripping or opening of any covering em ployed to close in the container; The parachute receives a direct blast of air through the chute and the air passages-until it isentirely clear of the aeroplane and-then catches the air and expands to its normal" diameter. The ropes 13 are pulledout of 'theicontainer' and join the cables 15. It is intendedthat the aeroplane will be carried onan even. keel when. the parachute is expanded to the'fullest extent as shownin Fig-3. f

Although the aeroplane may be falling nose down when the trap door is opened and the parachute projected, when the parachute properly catches the air it will'jdraw the aeroplane into a] horizontal .position,- thewings of the aeroplane then functioning-to retard. the fall of the aeroplane andsp'arachute. f

The arrangement of the chute and air sages are sufiicient to actuatejthefparac ar no matter how the aeroplane falls. .Should it stall and fall tail first fora short distance, it will usually reverse its position,-'eoming tWo'side' walls andthc bottom formed by a would be forced into thechute, ejecting the parachute. 1 i.

Although I have illustrated the parachute as being connected to the'aeroplane, it is to be understood that similar device or devices could be utilized to discharge individual parachutes for thBfPllOt, the crews'of. the aeroplane and anyypassengers carried. 1

Various changes may be made inithe principles of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

What I claim isf l I 1. In the art described, the'combmation of an aeroplane having a container, a parachute housed therein, an air passage through the aeroplane to the container to eject the parachute, means to open and close said passage, and a cage at the rear end-of the aeroplane to guide the parachute clear of control rudders or the like.

' 2. The combination ofan aeroplane having a container-with an inclined floor, side wallsIextending upwardly and rearwardly from the floor, an air pass-ageextending throughthe floor and downwardly in a forwarddirection the projecting end of the passage 'being above the floor, a parachute folded in the container with thecenter part across the passage and the sides folded between the passage and the side walls of the container, a trap door having side walls forming an air chute, a latch to normally hold same closed,.ropes and cables connected tothe parachute, means connecting the cables-to the aeroplane, and means controlled by a pilot to release the trap door.

3..In the art described, the combination "of aeroplane having a co'ntainer with a rearwardly inclined floor, an air passage extending fromthe bottom of the aeroplane at an angle upwardly and rearwardly through said floor, atrap door pivoted at its rearward edge-adjacent the rear side of the passage. and having'side walls attached to same trapdoor closed, means to' open thedoor on ;release of the latch, the discharge passage extending above the floor of the container whereby the parachute may be packed in ,the container with the central part over the .air passage and the sides folded between the passage and the sides of the container.

A. In the art describe d,'the combination ofan aeroplane having a fuselage with a container mounted therein, the floor of such container being inclined rearwardly and downwardly relative to the horizontal and having an opening through the top of the said-passage with .a latch to hold and release the door, and a parachute folded in the container with partfofthe arachute extending across the upper end o the said air-passage. r

' 5; In: the art described,- the combination of an aeroplane having a fuselage, a container built in said. fuselage and having a forming an airchute, a latch to hold the lOll downwardly and rearwardly inclined 'floor having reference to the horizontal, a structure forming an air passage extending downwardly and forwardly from the said containerandhaving a discharge end extending eague above the floor of the said container, leaving a space between the discharge end and the outside of the container, a trap door forming a closure for the lower part of the passage at the bottom of the fuselage, and means to hold said trap door open on a downward and forward inclination, a read- 11y removable cover over the top of the eoninclined floor having vvardly and :rearwardly v reference to the hor zontal with said contamer having an open top through the top of v the fuselage,. a structure vvardly and inclined forming a closure for s parachute folded in the container and havg secured to the flash? to prevent contact of the parachute wit the said controls.

' have signed my In testimony Miami I name to this specification.

JOSEPH LA- PORTE.

a partextending over the open ends 'of the said air a madilyrelnovable cover over the container, vand guards having a down- 7 25 air passage, 21' 

